Shirley Ann Buffkin: Tabor City

1944 – 2021

     Shirley Ann Buffkin of Tabor City died Sunday, Jan. 17, in her home. She was 76.

     Born Aug. 27, 1944 in the Sandy Plain Community, she was the daughter of the late Henry Buck McDowell and Dorothy Hewett McDowell.

     She is survived by one son, Jamie Lee Buffkin of Butler, Tennessee; three daughters, Robin Lemonds (Jim), Gwen Cartrette, and Jessica Saurina (John), all of Tabor City; six grandchildren, Holly Strickland, Jerod Strickland, Naomi Cartrette, Johnathan Cartrette, Jordyn Saurina, Marcus Saurina; five great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Strickland, Temberli Phipps, Peylin Phipps, Terryn McPherson and Violet McPherson; and two that she loved and treated as her own grandchildren, Taylor Helms and Kenneth Helms.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Jerry Buffkin; two brothers, Harlee McDowell and James Verlon McDowell; a sister, Pearlease McDowell; and a granddaughter, Summer Dawn Cartrette.

     She was a member of Mt. Beulah Original Free Will Baptist Church, where she played the piano and loved to sing.

     Visitation was planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, in Inman Ward Funeral Home.

     Funeral services were planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel, burial following in Sandy Plain Cemetery, Tabor City.

     A guest register is available here.